GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota's Rocco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz are among the 46 players invited by USA Hockey to take part in its National Junior Evaluation Camp this August in Lake Placid, N.Y. The players will be auditioning for a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team that will take part in the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2012-Jan. 5, 2013, in Ufa, Russia.

Grimaldi, a 5-foot-6, 165-pound forward, is a repeat invitee after having taken part in last year's evaluation camp. The Rossmoor, Calif., native had one goal and one assist in four games for the Fighting Sioux in 2011-12 before being shut down for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

The WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year last season, Grimaldi is expected to make a full return to health in 2012-13 and will likely receive a medical redshirt. He was a second-round draft pick (33rd overall) of the Florida Panthers in 2011.

A product of the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP), Grimaldi has previously led the United States to gold medals at the 2011 and 2010 World Under-18 Championships, the 2011 Five Nations Cup and the 2010 Under-18 Four Nations Cup.

Schmaltz, an incoming freshman, tied for second among USHL defensemen in 2011-12 with 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games. He led the Green Bay Gamblers to the USHL's Anderson Cup as regular season league champions with a 47-9-4 record and added two goals and five assists in 11 playoff games.

In 2010-11, the 6-foot-2, 189-pound Schmaltz led USHL defensemen in scoring, registering 11 goals and 31 assists in 53 games with the Sioux City Musketeers. He earned USHL First All-Star Team and USHL All-Rookie Team honors, while collecting five USHL Defenseman of the Week awards.

Schmaltz's previous USA Hockey experience includes a gold medal at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge. He is eligible for the NHL Entry Draft later this month and was ranked 34th among North American skaters in the final 2012 NHL Central Scouting Bureau draft rankings.